Mental Health

Question 1

depression

Answer 1

clinical depression-potentially lethal and is either 2 weeks of a depressed mood or 2 weeks of losing interest in activities+5 symptoms

1. loss of appetite
2. weight gain/loss
3. sleep disturbances
4. psychomotor agitation/retardation
5. decreased energy
6. sense of worthlessness
7. guilt/shame
8. difficulty concentrating
9. thoughts of suicide

Question 2

exercise and depression

Answer 2

• 3 times/week significantly lowers depression
• it is as least as effective as other methods
• all modes of exercise decrease symptoms
• similar decreases among different age groups, genders, and clinical vs non clinical populations

Question 3

Anxiety

Answer 3

• subjective feeling of apprehension and heightened physiological arousal
• significantly reduced by long term practice by most modes of exercise

Question 4

mood

Answer 4

host of transient, fluctuating affective states

1. positive affect-individual level of pleasurable engagement (enthusiasm, mental alertness, energy, and determination
2. negative affect-level of subjective distress (anger, fear, sadness, scorn, tension, guilt, distrust)
   exercise: moderate intensity 3-4 times/week aerobic exercise shows the most frequent and consistent improvements

Question 5

stress

Answer 5

• studies indicate a beneficial impact on the stress response but appraisal and coping mechanisms of stress have not been examined enough
• some exercise increases stress (can be used to avoid issues/can create new demands)

Question 6

self-concept

self-esteem

Answer 6

• attributes with which individuals examine themselves to establish self-esteem judgement
• self-esteem-judgement of worthiness-most exercise has a positive benefit (longer programs better)
• -strong evidence that exercise increases self-concept and perceptions of the physical self
• -weak evidence that global self-esteem is increased

Question 7

endorphin hypothesis

Answer 7

• endorphins ease pain and can produce euphoria (runner’s high)
• mimic morphines structure and regulate emotion and pain perception
• little supporting evidence (runners reporting runner’s high did not have changed levels of endorphins)

Question 8

monoamine hypothesis

Answer 8

• dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin explain why exercise has a beneficial effect
• mixed evidence-base levels are hard to measure

Question 9

thermogenic hypothesis

Answer 9

• elevated temp related to improved mental health
• increasing leukocytes may kill off bacteria associated with nagging illnesses and improve mental health
• mixed evidence-passive heating and high intensity exercise both increase slow wave sleep which helps relaxation

Question 10

distraction hypothesis

Answer 10

• time out from daily routines responsible for increased mental health
• other psychological explainations=self efficacy and enhanced psychological need fulfillment